Murata’s solution “Wireless technology”
Wireless technology expedites the process of making cars more intelligent
Opens up new demand with a unique viewpoint

The wave of IT has reached to the automobile industry. An “Intelligent car” that is totally different from a concept of conventional vehicles is becoming a real thing. Wireless technology has an important role in such trend. Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd. is proposing various wireless application systems targeting for making vehicles intelligent, using the device and system technologies relating to wireless communications the company has developed so far.

Mr. Satoshi Ishino
Technology & business development group Director, Business planning division, Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd.

Murata has already established many achievements in automobile-related wireless technology fields. For example, for ETC (Electronic Toll Collection) system, Murata has been providing a RF module for in-vehicle equipment since the start of its practical application. In the future, as in-vehicle wireless technology evolves further, opportunities to utilize the company’s technologies or know-how will increase. Because Murata has a long-time achievement in providing radio-frequency devices and modules including filters to the wireless communication market such as portable equipment. “On the background that many wireless functions are installed in advanced vehicles, miniaturizing and thinning of electronic systems are strongly demanded. We would like to meet such requirements from part selection to designing and management with our modules that are manufactured according to the needs and applications of customers.” (Mr. Ken Hashimoto, Manager of Automotive products section, Communication module products division, Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd.)

It is a wireless communication module to provide an interface function for exchanging information inside the vehicle or with the outside world that the company is especially taking notice. “Wireless technology will bring a new value to vehicles. We assume that the needs of wireless communication will ever increase not only with the outside environment, but also inside the vehicle.” (Mr. Satoshi Ishino, Director of business planning division, Technology & business development group, Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd.)

Expands usage of wireless communication in ITS

Mr. Ken Hashimoto
Manager of Automobile products section, Communication module products division, Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd.

Murata is intending to provide various modules for systems supporting ITS (Intelligent Transport System) using its know-how that has been accumulated through development of the ETC system. Because there is prospect that wireless communication with the outside of vehicles such as DSRC or IEEE802.11p will be deployed in the future. Also in such systems, demand for miniaturizing and higher-integration is strong. To realize this demand with module products, the presence of business partners that provides devices is indispensable. Because, in case of in-vehicle usage, all the devices that construct a module must satisfy the necessary quality requirements. “In addition to quality, high performance is also required. In our company’s strong area, “Wireless communications”, we have been establishing multi-faceted relationship with semiconductor manufacturers and in-house part division, as well as with our customers. As a result, width of solutions for customers is expanding. We intend to offer various solutions and RF modules making the best use of our strength.” (Mr. Hashimoto)

Realizes a complete hands-free solution with a voice recognition technology

Fig-1. Voice recognition function integrated Bluetooth^® module

The vanguard of in-vehicle wireless module is a Bluetooth^® module for hands-free system that is used in combination with portable telephones or portable audio players (See Fig-1). Since 2004, when usage of a cellular phone while driving was regulated by law in amendment of Road Traffic Law, the market of hands-free system for cellular phone has steeply expanded. Bluetooth^® is an excellent technology to connect microphone or headset and cellular phone for drivers. There already exist a lot of manufacturers that produce Bluetooth^® modules for hands-free system. Among them, Murata is differentiating itself from others by adding company’s unique functions, specifically, a Bluetooth^® module equipped with a voice recognition function.

Hands-free systems are not safe enough if they require users to look at the screen or to push buttons when making a call or searching the phone numbers. Therefore, Murata integrated a voice recognition function. “We thought that it is difficult to integrate voice recognition function into the cellular phones, because the data processing load is too large. So, we have decided to integrate hardware and software necessary for voice recognition into in-vehicle Bluetooth^® module instead. This system can make a Bluetooth^®-compatible cellular phone into a completely hands-free cellular phone.” (Mr. Ishino) In addition, the system accommodates accents and dialects of different countries and regions. Murata’s module has already been adopted practically in foreign markets.

Making a control system to be wireless has come into sight

The ultimate wireless application in an automobile will be to make many wire harnesses crawling in a vehicle to be wireless. Information of control systems such as engine, break or suspension is taken into a vehicle through the wire harness. Recently, as car functions become more complex, the amount of data to be transmitted is increasing rapidly. So, there is an idea to take in all information using wireless technology instead of a wire harness. In addition to the problems of wire volume and complexity, maintenance is becoming an issue as well. The more complicated transmission paths get, the more difficult problem identification becomes. Wireless transmission will enhance the freedom in design and improve gas mileage. It sounds like a dream, yet it is true that wireless module has a potential to change the automotive system dramatically. “I think that technological wall is very high, because, in case of control system, delay or error in data transmission is never allowed. Including the future possible technologies, we will consider what solution would be optimum.” (Mr. Ishino)

In-vehicle RFID may improve production efficiency and traceability

Aside from making intelligent cars, Murata is also developing wireless technology to contribute to the automobile industry. RFID technology improves production efficiency and traceability of automobile components. In current production processes, the mixing up of components is prevented by checking part information, and such mistakes as skipping of necessary process or change of assembling order are prevented by recording the process history. Most automobile manufacturers collect information about questionable parts from auto repair shops to improve the quality of components. By collecting such data, they can identify immediately that what product, which supplier, and which lot has a problem.

Fig-2. In-vehicle use RFID tag - “MAGICSTRAP^®”

In component information management, bar codes are being used widely. By attaching a bar code to each component, it is possible to prevent a mistake from occurring or to find out problematic components or processes when a problem occurred in the market. However, there are many issues and restrictions in a bar code system. For example, reading operation of each and every component is necessary, or rewriting of information is not possible in process history management, etc. Moreover, once an automobile has been assembled, it may have to be disassembled down to the component level just to scan a bar code. Also, in severe usage environment unique to automobiles, bar codes can be destroyed beyond reading. RFID can solve such problems.

Conventional RFID tags may not be able to support usage environment of vehicles, especially high temperatures. Murata’s RFID tag, MAGICSTRAP^®, is ceramic and has been in the market since July 2008. It can stand the in-vehicle usage in high-temperature environment (See Fig-2), Since MAGICSTRAP^® achieves high production efficiency and good traceability unattainable with bar codes and existing RFID tags, the company says that they already have received several trade inquiries from vehicle-related manufacturers.